Beyond the Frontier

Set against the backdrop of World War II, this book explores the dissenting voices of midwestern historians who opposed the dominant narrative of America's role in the world, as popularized by Henry Luce. Figures like Charles Beard and William Appleman Williams criticized the imperial presidency and interventionist policies, warning that these trends threatened the core values of American democracy. Through personal papers and interviews, David S. Brown presents an engaging intellectual history that connects these historians' ideas to contemporary issues, making it relevant today.